The National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has defended President John Mahama over the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as a Supreme Court Justice.
His comments come after Justice Torkornoo filed an application for judicial review at the High Court on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The former Chief Justice argued that the removal warrant issued by President Mahama on September 1 was unlawful, void, and without legal effect.
She contended that the process violated Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which outlines a different procedure for removing a Superior Court Justice compared to that of a Chief Justice.
Reacting to the development in an interview on Channel 1 TV on September 18, Mr. Vanderpuye described the situation as unfortunate.
“Misconduct is a misconduct. It is sad that Getty has suffered it,” he noted.
He added, “It may be sad that it is she who is going through this, but that is a sacrifice you have to pay by being a servant of the law.”
Mr. Vanderpuye insisted that the president had acted properly in the matter and should not be accused of wrongdoing.
“I just want us to understand one thing here that the executive has not done anything wrong as far as this whole process is concerned,” he noted.
He however added that this may be an opportunity for a broader reform of the processes of the Judicial System.
“Certain things will happen to give any dynamic society the opportunity to reform, and that will build a much stronger, enduring environment for the future generation,” he stated.
Adding, “It is an opportunity that has been offered to us by which we can say, let’s develop laws and systems that will make it difficult for anyone to bring up such a petition to remove a Supreme Court judge.”
However, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye said that Justice Torkornoo’s is well within her right to seek a review in court.
